Preparation for Spiritual Power

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There were forty days between the time that Jesus was resurrected until He ascended to heaven. (Acts 1:3) This number, forty, is significant throughout the Bible, and represents the number of spiritual preparation during trials. The number is also linked to purification. A forty-day testing period ends in either victory or defeat. Because the disciples abandoned Jesus at the Cross, they had much to regret. Jesus made it a priority to reengaged with His followers during the forty days after His resurrection to restore and encourage and set the course for their future.
 
When Jesus engaged with two of His followers who were walking to Emmaus, they did not recognize Him until He broke bread with them. They said to one another, "Were not our hearts burning within us while He talked with us on the road and opened Scriptures to us?" (Luke 24:32) In their desire to share what had happened, they went to Jerusalem to join the disciples and confirmed that Jesus had risen. While they were there, Jesus came into the room and said, "Peace be with you." (Luke 24:36) He then reminded them of what He had said before His crucifixion. Eight days later, all eleven of the disciples gathered together with the door locked because of their fear of the Jews. Jesus suddenly stood before them and repeated what He had said before: "Peace be with you." (John 20:27) Thomas, who had not been with the disciples at their last meeting, had an opportunity to place his hands into the wounds of Jesus. His unbelief disappeared, and he declared, "My Lord and my God!" (John 20:28)
 
Another encounter with Jesus came for seven disciples who decided to go fishing at the Sea of Galilee. They forsook their call to fish for men, hoping to find some satisfaction in their old occupation. Jesus stood on the shore and watched their frustration as they caught nothing. He called to them and instructed them to throw their net to the right side of the boat. "When they did, they were unable to haul the net because of the large number of fish. Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, 'It is the Lord.'" (John 21:6, 7) When they came to shore, they found Jesus who had prepared a fire of burning coals with fish on it, and some bread. Jesus took this opportunity to restore Peter. Taking into consideration Peter's three-fold denial of Him, Jesus asked him three times if he truly loved Him. Jesus made it clear that Peter was being restored and that he was to care for His sheep.

The apostle Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15 that Jesus appeared to many before HIs ascension. "He appeared to Peter, and then the Twelve. After that, He appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all He appeared to me also..." (Verses 5-8) Luke describes the ascension of Jesus in the first chapter of the book of Acts. First, Jesus told His disciples, "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days, you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit...But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." (Acts 1:4, 5, 8) The disciples needed to have the power of the Holy Spirit come upon them to accomplish the mission that was being set before them.

Ten days after the ascension of Jesus—fifty days from His resurrection—the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit. They began speaking in other tongues, saw tongues of fire resting on everyone, and heard a mighty wind in their gathering place. Peter boldly spoke a message of repentance and watched as about 3,000 people were added to their number on that day. This was the beginning of a new life for the apostles. Acts 2:43 reports, "Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles." Here we have the beginning of the formation of The Church. The call on our lives has not changed since this day of Pentecost. Fifty is the number of liberty, freedom, and jubilee. God calls us to walk with Him through the Holy Spirit in the power that He has given to us. We are commissioned to reach those in our lives with the truth of the Gospel. We cannot allow anything to distract us from our pursuit of the fullness of all that God has for us and those whose lives we touch.